town, from the North and West, was over the pine land West of the river.

But after improvements began to be made in the location of roads, two were so established in other towns as to bring the Northern and Western travel into this town near the foot of the North Monoosnock, thence through what is now called West street, and then on the old Lancaster road. Highways have now been located through the town in almost every direction, and they are generally kept in such a state of repair as not to suffer by a comparison with the roads in other towns.

The repairs have been made by a tax on property, generally paid in labor and materials by the inhabitants in the several surveyor districts, into which the town is divided; but in some instances of late years it tax, expended under the veyors or a Committee.

has been by a money direction of the SurThe sum annually

raised for many years has, with few, exceptions, been $800, but for the year 1851 it was increased to $1000.

Connected with the common roads in this town, there are three bridges over the Nashua River, and a dozen or more across the Monoosnock Brook and other smaller streams; and to rebuild and keep these bridges in repair for ten

years past has required, in addition to the highway tax, the average annual amount of $200. Instead of wood, the town has adopted the more economical plan of building them of stone, and probably the time is not far distant when all the principal bridges will have been constructed either of Monoosnock, or some other granite.

TURNPIKES.

In New York, the canal fever has had a regular run, and in this Commonwealth, many years ago, the turnpike fever prevailed very extensively; and as it was contagious, a considerable number of perons in this town, caught it, or rather got caught by it.

More than forty years since, for the purpose of uniting the fifth Massachusetts and the Concord Turnpikes, a charter was obtained to construct one from the foot of the North Monoosnock Hill to Concord, called the Union Turnpike. It was not contemplated that it should be strictly an "Air-Line," but the object was to go as nearly straight as circumstances would permit; and in the location the ascent and de

years

scent of the ground was pretty much out of the question. It passed over the Nichols Hill, the Follansbee Hill, and down the steep descents beyond, into Farm Meadow, and so on over the Harvard Hill, to the end. It was a well made road, but the traveller found it was no farther, and a great deal easier, to go round the base, than over the top of certain summits, and therefore the old road was preferred. In a few the shares became nearly or quite worthless, to the great injury, and even to the ruin of some who held them. Eventually one portion of the turnpike was converted into a County road, while another portion of it in this town still remains, as a monument of the folly of laying out roads over high hills and through deep valleys, merely for the purpose of making the line a straight one.

RAIL ROADS.

On the 3d of March, 1842, a charter was granted by the General Court, whereby N. F. Cunningham, a native of the adjoining town of Lunenburg, Abel Phelps and Alvah Crocker,

two native sons of this town, but residing, the one in Boston and the other in Fitchburg, together with other business and persevering men, were authorized to construct a rail road from Charlestown through the Northeasterly part of this town to Fitchburg. The capital stock (not to exceed $1,500,000) was taken up, and generally by those who were able to pay, the road was judiciously located and thoroughly made, the land damages were seasonably and honorably adjusted, and in little less than three years, viz: in the forenoon of Feb. 10, 1845, the road was opened, the "iron steed" came puffing, snorting and smoking along, and the joyful sound of the whistle was heard for the first time at the depot in the North Village, by the multitude there assembled as witnesses.

At that moment an important change took place in relation to the temporal affairs of the inhabitants of this town. From that moment we were placed within two hour's ride of the city of Boston. Since then men and their families may breakfast at home, go to the city and transact business, or dine with and visit their friends, and be home to tea. Truly, as was written by another on a very different subject "Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new."

April 22, 1852. For four days the rain has been pouring down, and caused an unusual flood; but while on the Vermont and Massachusetts Rail Road, the Cheshire, and others in the vicinity, the bridges have been swept away, and other damage done, the Fitchburg and the Fitchburg and Worcester roads are unharmed.

In 1847, a charter was granted for the Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad. This road runs on the West side of the river through the whole length of the town from the North to the Southeast, taking the centre in its course, and unites with the Worcester and Nashua road a little south of the Washacum Pond, in Sterling. This road was opened for passengers in Feb. 1850, and affords every facility for those who wish to go to Worcester, and in a direction South and West from that place; and also to Fitchburg, and from thence both West and North.

There are at present but few country towns better accommodated with railroad facilities than this. Already a great change has taken place in the business affairs of the town, and whether it is eventually to be for the better or for the worse, remains yet to be settled. And so it does also whether the railroads shall continue to be good property for the stockholders, or whether they are to share the same fate of